by Ellen Joy
She left work and headed to the bakery to meet her mother and uncles at their afternoon coffee klatch. By the time she got there the bakery was empty, and Frank had officially closed. As she sat down, she realized she had entered a heated discussion about her cousin Ally and her new romantic interest, Jean-Paul.
“What’s going on with Ally?” Elizabeth asked impatiently, sitting down next to the cafe au lait waiting for her.
“I’m worried because Ally always falls hard,” said David, “and falls apart hard, too, when things don’t work out.”
“That’s not true.” It absolutely was true, but Elizabeth wouldn’t admit it, especially since once again her family was butting into someone else’s business. Ally was her cousin by coincidence, but best friend by choice. Born six weeks apart, they grew up in the same small town, went to the same schools, had the same friends, sometimes even ex-boyfriends. They stuck together through everything, and stuck up for each other no matter what. Even if Elizabeth did think Ally was moving fast on her newest relationship. She decided to deflect. “The question is really, why you don’t trust him?”
“Because his name is Jean-Paul,” David chimed in.
“Jean-Paul may be a really great guy who loves her.”
David gave her the stink eye. “I’d say they’re infatuated with each other. There’s just no reason why they need to move in together after dating for two weeks.”
“You know she’s not a virgin, right, Uncle David?” Sometimes it surprised Elizabeth how conservative her uncle was when it came to his daughter.
“I know, but I’d like her to live on her own, once in a while.”
Another truth. Ally had never been on her own. The eternal extrovert, Ally always had a live-in boyfriend or a roommate—who became her new live-in boyfriend on more than one occasion. But Elizabeth wasn’t going to agree with him. It would no doubt come back to bite her.
“I was married and had four children by your age,” Sarah began. Elizabeth looked up to the ceiling, waiting for the inevitable “piece of advice” that only Elizabeth seemed to get.
“Ally is a grown woman.” Frank shook his head. “Who are we to tell her what to do?”
“She’s going to get her heart broken,” David said back.
“She’s going to fall for someone, whether it’s a guy named Jean-Paul or Billy Jo,” Elizabeth said. “She’s happy. That’s what matters.”
David muttered, “For now.”
“Whose heart are we really worried about?”
She could tell her uncles were worried. Sure, Ally had met men she liked here and there, but it was always a fast burn and she’d lose interest. Now, it appeared that a Frenchman had stolen her heart.
And he was a chef.
“So, are you saying that you and Dan are going to move in, then?” her mother asked out of nowhere. Both of her uncles sat at attention.
Here we go, Elizabeth thought to herself. “Dan and I are different. We already have our own places.” The ocean picnic flashed in her mind. She almost confessed everything, but stopped herself. She didn’t want her brother to hear that she might have doubts. Then he’d really have something to say.
“But have you two talked about moving forward in your relationship?” Frank asked. “I mean, you’ve been dating for a while now.”
“Not that long,” Elizabeth said.
“Longer than Ally and Jean-Paul,” David countered.
“And on that note ... I should probably head out for my next appointment.” Elizabeth stood up and grabbed her purse. She didn’t want to start analyzing everything again.
“We heard that the man who bought the Sanborn Farm recently got a horse, and you’re his vet,” Frank said.
Elizabeth shouldn’t have been surprised, since her uncles somehow always managed to know everything happening in town, but she was. “A pregnant mare,” Elizabeth answered. “He’s in way over his head.”
“Wonder what brought him here all the way from Boston?” her mother asked.
“He brings his daughter here in the mornings before school.” Frank took a sip of his latte. “Cute little thing.” Then he added, “Awfully big place for just the two of them.”
Elizabeth realized that something was happening between her mother and Frank and David. They were having a silent conversation with gestures and head nods.
“Is he divorced?” her mother asked Frank.
Elizabeth let out a sigh and leaned over to kiss her mother on the cheek. “I love you, see you tomorrow.”
Her mother kissed her back. “Margie told me he’s quite attractive.”
She ignored her mother and kissed both of her uncles on the cheek. “Bye.”
“Talk to Ally,” David said as she left. “She doesn’t have to move in right away. I mean, look what happened to you and Mark.”
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, not wanting to argue the point. “I’ll try.”
When she walked into the clinic, Margie handed over a piece of paper.
“You got a message.”
Instantly, she wondered if it was Adam Cahill.
“Dan called and said to meet him at Finn’s after work.”
Elizabeth looked down at Margie’s writing. Dan hadn’t said he’d plan anything special, but she was hoping more than the usual. Disappointment washed over her, then guilt.
Maybe Matt was right. Maybe she was stringing him along. And if she was, why? Why was she holding onto a guy if she didn’t really like him that much? Because she knew Dan would never intentionally hurt her like Mark did.
Dan was safe.
ADAM LOOKED AT ELIZABETH’S personal number on his phone screen, thinking of what to say. If it were five years ago, he’d have her dinner and breakfast order already. He never had trouble with women. Women loved Adam. Not to mention the name, the schools, the connections, and the career. And the money.
Life certainly changes.
Just as his thumb was about to press the call button, the phone vibrated in his hand. “Hi, Mom.”
“I’m at the club, so I can’t talk long.”
“Lady putters?” He imagined the white wine spritzer already in her hand. He glanced at the time. Just after four o’clock in the afternoon.
“Sharon Gibson gave me all the information for that private investigator I was telling you about.” He could hear the other women in the background. “I sent you everything this morning.”
“Did she say how long this kind of thing takes?” he asked, unsure if this was the step he wanted to make.
“I suppose until she finds her.” She talked to another woman about new lounge chairs in the locker rooms and then said, “Darling, I’ve got to get going, but call the woman.”
“I’ll think about it.” He tapped his fingers against the counter.
“Just do it, so you can at least find out where she is,” she said, a bit impatiently. “It wouldn’t hurt to get some documentation.”
He began to pick at the chipped Formica with his thumb nail. The sage green country farm scheme nauseated him almost as much as the idea of finding out what kind of life Michelle had chosen over theirs. And what if they didn’t find her?
“I’ve got to go, love you, darling,” his mother said, before hanging up.
“Love you, too.” He set the phone on the counter and leaned along its edges. Never in a million years would he have thought that this was how things would end. Hire a private investigator and hunt her down. Give her everything he had, so she’d stay away forever.
He knew it wasn’t a matter of asking, because Michelle would take the money, burn through it like she did with all the rest of it, and beg for another payment. It was a matter of Lucy finding out what he had done. Would she see it as a father protecting his daughter? Or a man taking away her mother?
All he wanted to do was keep Lucy safe. If that meant keeping Michelle out of her life, then that’s what he had to do. God knew, Michelle would just leave again if she came back. People don’t change.
He grabbed his coffee and headed out the door to the east field. The excavator had come out that morning and staked the site, took down some marked trees that had died throughout the years. He also wanted to run into town to submit a request to open up the stone wall for a second entrance to the barn.
After a quick inspection, he headed back to the truck to drive down to town hall. He swiped open his home screen and Elizabeth’s number popped up. He wanted to apologize for his behavior. He needed to apologize before she came over and gave him that look of hers. The look of pure hatred. But he couldn’t get himself to do it. He stuffed his phone into his back pocket and jumped in his truck. As he started the engine, the car’s speakers sounded his ringtone and Dr. Elizabeth Williams flashed on the screen.
“Adam Cahill,” he said in a deeper voice than usual, and he smacked his head silently with his hand.
“Mr. Cahill, this is Elizabeth Williams.” He noticed she dropped the doctor this time. “I had a cancellation this afternoon and thought I’d come out and do the ultrasound on the mare, if you’re free.”
He leaned back into his seat. A smile grew across his face as he looked over to the barn. “I’m here all afternoon, stop by whenever.”
ELIZABETH PULLED INTO the driveway and parked. She looked out at the house. The sting of it not being hers was a little less painful, knowing that Adam Cahill was doing some good with the place. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t encourage him to go back to the city, but she did applaud his efforts. She would admit to that.
As she walked to the barn, Lucy ran out of the house and right to her side. “Anastasia has new friends!”
The little girl dragged Elizabeth to the barn and pulled open one of the stall doors just as two very large pigs oinked. Oh great, she almost said aloud. Instead, she said with fake enthusiasm, “You got pigs!”
Lucy hugged one of them. Then promptly kissed it on the snout. The black and pink spotted pig didn’t take notice but continued to investigate its surroundings.
“A family had a fire and needed help while they found a new place to live.”
“Is your dad making an ark, next?” The joke only confused the little girl.
Lucy reminded Elizabeth of herself. At six years old, she convinced her parents to let her take horseback riding lessons at the Sanborn Farm. After that, Elizabeth practically lived at the farm. Mrs. Sanborn enjoyed the extra help she was willing to offer, and she loved being around the horses. Then she helped with Mrs. Sanborn’s other animals. The chicken that lost a toe due to frostbite, splinting the cat’s broken leg, feeding the lambs that lost their mother during childbirth. Helping animals came naturally to Elizabeth, and Lucy was a kindred spirit.
“Daddy got more chickens, too.”
Lucy left the stall as Elizabeth asked, “Where did all these animals come from?”
“From a new client.” Adam stood at the entrance of the barn.
“That’s an interesting form of payment.” She almost regretted bringing up payment.
“Lucy’s passion works my wallet.”
The fact Lucy was the one behind the animals gave her a bit more hope that this little hobby farm would be up for sale soon. Like most girls, she’d lose interest when boy bands and hair product become cooler than mucking out a stall.
On the positive side, if he did end up holding on for a few years, it would allow her to really plan out the practice she would like to create.
“So, you have two new pigs.” She squatted down and rubbed behind the male pig’s ear.
“Yes, apparently he follows his sister around. Hence the pair.”
“Ah.” If anything, Elizabeth would earn the money for the farm from this guy.
He entered the stall. He knelt and started petting the pig beside her. She could smell his musky scent, and her heart skipped. She wondered if the animals could smell the pheromones pumping through her body as he gave her that look again. His eyes were so intense that her whole body flushed, which totally threw her.
“I’m sorry.” He spoke so quietly, she almost didn’t hear him over the bleating goat kids in the next stall. She wasn’t even sure she did hear him. Then he said it again. “I’m sorry for my behavior, and especially the night with Lucy.”
“Oh, it’s okay,” she quickly said, uncomfortable now that he brought it up. She looked away, to only look right back again. He appeared a different man. The creases in his forehead softened, and his ice-blue eyes melted a bit as he knelt there in the straw.
“No, it wasn’t, but I promise I won’t behave like that again.” He held out his hand for her to shake.
She gripped it. It was as firm a handshake as she expected it to be, and he clasped both of his hands around hers. The warmth from the encompassing touch almost made her knees give out from underneath her. Was this how Adam Cahill did business, or was he a changing man?
ADAM WALKED ELIZABETH to her truck as Lucy stayed behind, feeding the animals. Since Anastasia had arrived, he hadn’t seen Lucy in the house other than to eat and sleep. She had never been happier. He wanted to thank Elizabeth for it but decided not to make things even more uncomfortable.
As they headed toward her truck, they didn’t speak. She walked a little ahead of him, carrying her bag. This time she wore a button-up shirt with the another perfectly fit pair of jeans. Her curly blond hair hung down her back, held back by a scarf tied around her head. She probably had no idea how stunning she was.
When he heard Elizabeth and Lucy talking the night Max had died, he went into protective Daddy mode, and just lost it. The second he’d spoken the words, he’d known he was wrong. Her face had showed the hurt. He had been a complete jackass.
Now, looking back, the whole thing had scared him, because it had been like a fairy godmother moment. A beautiful woman giving a broken soul hope.
“Thanks for coming out,” he said, trying to act casual when he was anything but.
“No, problem, Mr. Cahill.”
“Please, call me Adam.”
She nodded and said, “Adam.”
Something inside him wanted to make her stay, if only for a few more minutes. Then out of nowhere he asked, “I wondered if you knew anyone willing to do some babysitting?”
She grabbed the loose strand of hair, twisting it around her finger as she thought. “I may know someone. A lot of people around here work seasonally. I’m sure I could find someone looking for extra work.”
He opened her door for her just as the contractor pulled up to the house.
Elizabeth looked at the van and asked, “Is Patrick O’Malley working for you?”
“I’d like to build a proper stable out in the pasture, and renovate the house and barn.”
“What are you going to do?” her voice sounded shrill. He had noticed the way she looked at the farm. There was panic in her eyes, and he decided that his suspicions were correct. Was Elizabeth the other bidder for the farm?
“I’d like to have an office space.”
He could tell she was processing this information. “What kind of office space?”
“I’d like to set up a small practice here.”
“Out here?” she looked around. “A law office?”
“With the kind of law I practice, I don’t meet too many clients in my office,” he said. “I usually go to them.”
“What kind of law do you practice?”
He had an urge to tell her all his plans. How he left the big firm for a small-town life. How he put out an ad, but the truth was that his plans were just dreams at this point. His only clients were her uncles and himself.
“I worked as a corporate lawyer, but now I’m focusing on family law, small businesses, wills and trusts.” When he went out on his own, he knew that people in small town needed that kind of law. But lawyer or not, he really didn’t have a ton of experience in that type of law. Since they moved to Camden Cove, he acted like he was studying for the bar again. During the day he was mucking stalls, and by night, hitting the books.
She looke
d like she was about to say something, but Patrick, his contractor called out to her before she got any words out. “When’s your brother Matt going to start joining us for poker night again?”
She smiled, comfortable in his presence. The two hugged like longtime friends, and he suddenly wished he was Patrick.
“I bet you’ll see him this week.” She smiled, and Adam noticed how relaxed she became.
“Nothing like marriage to get you back into playing poker,” Patrick joked.
Elizabeth smiled coolly, but Adam could tell she didn’t want to talk about it. “Matt’s been busy fishing—morning, noon, and night.”
“Tell him those lobsters can catch themselves, and to come out once in a while.”
“I will.” Elizabeth said goodbye and climbed up into her truck. Before she closed the door, she said, “Call me with any concerns you have. I’d set up an appointment in a couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?” The idea of a horse going into labor now frightened him more than he expected. “Do you think you could come sooner, just to check in?”
Elizabeth contemplated this, then answered, “Sure. Call the office and set up a time that works for you.”
He nodded as Patrick stood waiting, watching them.
“Sure thing.” He closed the door for her and patted the side of her truck as he stepped away. He suddenly couldn’t wait until next week.
Six
Elizabeth walked down the aisle of the baking section looking for an easy cake mix to make for Sunday dinner. She had to bring dessert this week, which would never compare to her uncles’ baked goods, so she didn’t know why she even bothered. Yet there she was, deciding between lemon, light frosting, and butter cream. She twisted around the different colorful cylinders of premade sugary goodness, wishing she carried the cooking gene like everyone else in her family, when she heard a little voice.
“Dr. Elizabeth!” Lucy called from the end of the aisle.
Lucy and Adam stood behind a cart near the tea section. Both were smiling. She smiled back and waved, then pretended to look back at the frosting, not sure if she should start a conversation or pretend to read.